Conserve Water Using These Tips from the City of Atlanta
Mayor Shirley Franklin and Atlanta Watershed Management Commissioner Robert Hunter recently warned City water customers that Georgia’s current water shortage “is not a test” and conservation of the state’s resources is critical to managing the drought.
The City of Atlanta will be monitoring the illegal use of water. After an initial written warning, customers will receive escalating administrative penalties of $100, $500 and $1,000. For a list of violations, visit www.atlantawatershed.org.
Indoor Water Conservation Tips:
- Take a “Navy” shower. Rinse, turn water off, soap up, turn water on and rinse again.
- Gentlemen - shave in the sink. Ladies - if this is too acrobatic, shave in the shower, but do so during the “soap-up” portion of the “Navy” shower.
- Do like Mayor Franklin and keep a 10-gallon bucket in your shower. When it is full, water outdoor plants. You can also keep a bucket in your kitchen. Pour water you would normally pour down the sink into the bucket.
- Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth.
- Dispose of floor sweepings in the trash, not the toilet.
- If you have an ancient toilet, consider switching it for a new, water-conserving model. If this home improvement project isn’t in the budget, at least make sure your toilet isn’t running when it shouldn’t be. If it is, replace the flapper mechanism inside the tank. This inexpensive fix could save you gallons of water each week – and reduce your water bill.
- Hand-wash your dishes. Fill one sink with soapy water and one sink with rinse water. If you have to use your dishwasher, make sure it is full before running it.
- Turn in your top-loading washing machine for a much more efficient front-loading model. Top-loading machines can use as much as 40 gallons per wash, while front-loading models use less than 20. Use cold water to wash your clothes. Don’t run your washing machine if it isn’t full.
- Use your food disposal unit sparingly. Instead, create a compost pile. You will waste less water and have compost to use on your landscaping once the drought is over!
For more information about water conservation, call 404.589.2684.
Mayor Shirley Franklin and Rob Hunter (Atlanta, Watershed Management Commissioner) discuss Atlanta's response to Georgia's current water shortage with media at a news conference in City Hall. |
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City Housing Fair Promotes Affordable, In-town Living Options
The City of Atlanta will partner with the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) and the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) to host an Atlanta Housing Fair in the City Hall Atrium on Thursday, October 18 from 12 - 5 p.m.
The fair is being presented as part of Atlanta’s affordable workforce housing initiative. In 2005, the City created an Economic Development Plan (EDP) for Atlanta. Among other things, the EDP addressed the housing needs of Atlanta’s workforce. In the EDP, the City pledges to add 10,000 affordable workforce housing units in Atlanta using City incentives by 2009. To view the EDP, visit www.atlantaga.gov, Economic Development.
City of Atlanta, Fulton County and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) employees are encouraged to attend the Housing Fair. This informational event is also open to the public.
Breakout Sessions Include:
- Financing Your Dream @ 12:15pm
A panel discussion featuring mortgage lenders (SunTrust Mortgage, Bank of America, Washington Mutual and HomeFree USA)
- Let Us Pay Your Down Payment @ 1:20pm
A panel discussion about down payment assistance (featuring the City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing, ADA, the Atlanta Housing Authority and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs)
- Now What? What buyers can expect after closing on their home @ 3:35 PM
A panel discussion led by the City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing.
For more information on the Atlanta Housing Fair, call Courtney Collins at 404.586.0180.
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Simpson Road Gets New Look Thanks to $150 Million Bond Program
On Friday, community leaders celebrated as the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works (DPW) broke ground on a $450,000 project to improve the streetscape along the Simpson Road corridor.
This first phase in the Simpson Road redevelopment project was made possible through the City’s Quality of Life Bond Program. The bond- totaling $150 million – was passed by Atlanta voters to provide the funding necessary to improve Atlanta streets and neighborhoods. Click here for more information on the Simpson Road Redevelopment, http://www.atlantaga.gov/simpson.aspx.
Improvements will be made along Simpson Road – from Temple Street to Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard. In the coming months, residents will see the following improvements: new sidewalks, painted crosswalks, street trees and brick accent pavers. To view current QOL Bond projects, visit here.
Community residents joined City of Atlanta and Atlanta City Council officials to break ground on the first phase of the Simpson Road Streetscape Improvement Project. |
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Office of Weed and Seed Trains New Generation of Leaders
Through travel, mentorship and program management training, the Mayor’s Office of Weed and Seed is preparing Atlanta youth to become the next generation of community leaders.
Last month, Weed and Seed partnered with the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and NeighborWorks America for a two-day, youth leadership training retreat entitled “How to Build Your Skills and Understand Your Community to Change it for the Better.” Approximately 50 high school and middle school students from 10 APS campuses joined 15 “coaches” to explore social dilemmas impacting their communities.
Retreat topics included “Leaders and Leadership”, “Community Building 101” and “Taking Action to Build a Healthy Environment.” Next month Weed and Seed will participate in a national Weed and Seed initiative in the Gulf Coast. Atlanta was selected to join the NeighborWorks Gulf Coast partnership to acquire the skills necessary to tackle difficult issues related to community revitalization through its Community Leadership Institute (CLI).
“These young men and women are actively learning about their own leadership capacity and are discussing ways that they might strengthen the communities where they live and go to school,” said Karen Rogers, Weed and Seed director.
For more information about Atlanta’s Weed and Seed Youth Leadership Initiative, visit here.
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Last week, Mayor Shirley Franklin joined Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Commissioner Rob Hunter to address Georgia's current water drought and its effects on metro Atlanta. Click here to watch the news conference.
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Rave Reviews!
- Congratulations to City Channel 26 (Comcast-City of Atlanta) for winning a “2007 Government Programming Award” at the recent National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Conference. The City was recognized in the ‘Event/Program Promotion’ category for one of a series of original public service announcements promoting the first showing of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection at the Atlanta History Center. City Channel 26 keeps Atlanta residents and stakeholders informed about City programs and projects, how to do business with the City and the Atlanta legislative process through live and recorded program coverage. City Channel 26 is also available online through live streaming and Video on Demand at www.atlantaga.gov.
- Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) Station #16 will be the featured organization on a holiday episode of HGTV program “Deserving Design.” AFR was recognized by the program for its years of service to residents of Atlanta’s Simpson Road community. For the past 40 years, Station #16 has presented an Annual Christmas Dinner for residents along Simpson Road sharing meals, gifts and goodwill. HGTV rewarded AFR for going above and beyond the call of duty by refurbishing and redecorating two rooms in Station #16. Deserving Design airs on HGTV on Wednesdays at 9 pm.
AFR will be the featured organization on HGTV’s “Deserving Design” program. Pictured from l-r: AFR Captain Gary Ross, 16-B; AFR Chief Liz Summers Battalion, 6-A; Vern Yip, Host of Deserving Designs; Captain Al Howard, 16-A; and Captain Jack Harris, 16-C. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Join the BeltLine Partnership, Park Pride, Trees Atlanta and the PATH Foundation on Saturday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., for a BeltLine Clean Up Project and Picnic. We will remove kudzu, pick up litter and beautify a 1-mile stretch in Southwest Atlanta in preparation for construction of the first BeltLine trail, which will begin at the end of the year. To volunteer, call 404.522.4097 or visit here.
A community BeltLine Cleanup activity will be held this Saturday October 20. |
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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